Page 18 of If the World Was Ending

“So you’re making it happen in Los Angeles, huh?” Gina smiled, and her eyes twinkled. They were a pretty shade of green. “I think that’s amazing.”

She seemed to mean it. God, Colby felt so bad for her. “Thanks. I’m the black sheep of the family, so… not a lot of support.”

“Gina!” Atlas’s voice was loud and hard like someone smacking a wooden spoon against a copper pot. Colby and Gina both jumped, and she pressed a hand to her chest. “What are you doing?”

He’s scared I’m telling her Colby smirked at the power but quickly wiped it from his face. He put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “Nice meeting you. Welcome to the family.”

She smiled at him, and then he continued down the stairs as Gina spoke to Atlas. “I was meeting your brother. What’s the big deal? And also coming to find you because your parents want to give a toast now.”

Colby continued through the house and disappeared into the bathroom downstairs, where he dumped the rest of the Corona he’d forgotten he was holding. He dropped the bottle into the trash, leaned on the marble vanity, and took several deep breaths.

His mother’s fake sing-song voice echoed down the hallway outside the closed door. “Colby! Come to the backyard, please!”

Fuck.

Colby took one more deep breath and opened the bathroom door. His mother was in the living room with a man Colby didn’t know. They were standing face-to-face. His mom was smiling, but the man looked… less happy. He turned, and his eyes swept over Colby, and then he smiled. “Hey. I’m Grant. I’m the director of the tennis program at your parents’ country club.”

“And you’re here for my brother’s engagement party?” Colby asked and knew immediately, even before his mother frowned, that it came across as rude. But Grant just shrugged and reached out to shake Colby’s hand.

“Nice meeting you,” Grant said.

“Let’s go, honey. Your dad wants everyone there.”

Colby nodded and followed his mom, while Grant wandered along behind Colby, kind of hanging back. Briar glued herself to his side as soon as he stepped onto the patio. Bonnie smiled at her and cupped her face. “So glad you’re still with him.”

“I’ll never leave him,” Briar replied and wrapped her cool fingers around Colby’s bicep.

Bonnie rushed to stand beside Andy on the diving board. Atlas was beside their dad, holding Gina’s hand as she beamed beside him. She was a pretty girl, and she seemed nice. It was a shame. Why couldn’t he play mind games with a bitch? Colby sighed.

Brodie walked over and stood next to Bonnie. He smoothed the front of his shirt with one hand before running it through his short blond hair. Colby didn’t move to join the family even though, on paper, he probably should.

“Thank you all for coming today!” Andy boomed, a confident smile on his ruddy face. He held up his glass of beer. “We are always so proud of our kids and their accomplishments. Marrying is one of those accomplishments.”

Colby made a little discontented noise in the back of his throat. God, this whole afternoon made him want to crawl out of his own skin. He never should have come. If he walked out right now, no one in his family would care. Most would probably be relieved. His dad rambled on about how a happy marriage was the best thing in life. Family. Kids.

“Kids who do whatever he thinks is right,” Colby whispered so only Briar could hear. She squeezed his arm again.

“To my kids!” Andy lifted his glass high in the air, and all the guests followed. “To my kid-in-law Gina, and the ones to come, if Brodie and Colby ever get it together.”

Chuckles rippled through the crowd. Colby ground his teeth until his jaw ached.

“And to the grandkids to come,” Bonnie added, grinning and winking at Gina.

“May they all play ball,” Andy finished, and more laughter rippled through the crowd. Colby wanted to puke.

Then, before anyone could drink, Brodie called out, “Colb! Get over here!”

Every set of eyes in the yard turned to look at Colby. He wanted to shrivel up and die, but Briar stood taller, kissed his cheek, and handed him her wine glass since he didn’t have one. He walked around the pool, his gaze down, fixated on the deck tile like it was the first time he’d ever seen it. Brodie dropped an arm on his shoulders, and Colby tensed.

“Cheers!” Andy called out, and everyone drank, even Colby because he’d become enough of a spectacle.

The crowd went back to chattering amongst themselves, and Colby stepped out of Brodie’s reach. “I’m sorry. I’ll keep saying it, and meaning it, until you tell me how to fix it.”

Colby stared at Brodie. His eyes, the same shade of blue-gray as Colby’s, were wide and pained. His expression sad. “I just want my brother back, man. Please.”

“Hey kids,” Andy said, interrupting the tense moment but too wrapped up in himself to notice. “Gina’s family hired a photographer, and they want some shots of the Keatons, so walk down to the beach with us.”

Colby waited until his dad bothered to meet his gaze. It took longer than it should have for a man who claimed to love all his kids. Andy blinked and forced a quick smile that looked more like a grimace. “What happened to your head?”